Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday targetted the Congress and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel amid allegations that he received Rs 508 crore from the promoters of the Mahadev betting app.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday stated it is probing a claim by a 'cash courier' who was arrested after it recovered Rs 5.39 crore from him.
Attacking Baghel, Irani said the Congress was using the illegal betting money to fund its campaign in the poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Never before in our electoral history had people seen such evidence, Irani told a press conference in Delhi.
Responding to Irani's allegations, Congress Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that central departments like the ED and Income Tax have become the BJP's main weapons during election season. “In all the states, Congress is going to form the government. In both Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, our government is popular, and the schemes are reaching the common people of the states. But they have only one target, which is to damage the image of the CMs of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan,” he said.
Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh called it revenge politics and claimed that the BJP is “clearly losing” in both states.
Chhattisgarh Deputy CM T.S. Singh Deo said the allegations against Baghel will not have any effect on the polls. He questioned why Irani is not presenting any evidence instead of levelling allegations. Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. The votes will be counted in December 3.
Speaking at a rally in Chhattisgarh's Durg on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also targetted the Congress government led by Baghel. “Chhattisgarh's corrupt government has broken your trust with one scam after the other. I assure you once again, after BJP Government is formed in the state, such scams will be strictly investigated and those who looted you will be sent to jail,” he said.
